Apparatus for controlling temperature of fluid



May 31,'1'932.

F. A. HOWARD APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE OF FLUID Filed July 24, 1929 INVENTQR Patented May 31, 1932 FRANK A. HOWARD, OF ELIZABETH, NEW' VELOPMENT COMPANY, A C

JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD OIL DE- ORPORATION OF DELAWARE APPARATUS FOR CON TROLLIN G TEMPERATURE OF FLUID Application med' July 24,

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for catalytic heating, especially as applied to internal combustion engines. The invention will be fully understood from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is av vertical section through a preferred form of catalytic heater, and

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of an internal combustion engine to which the heater is connected.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 is a casing which may be cylindrical or of rectangular or other suitable cross section. The casing is closed at each end lby the top and bottom members 2 and 3. Liquid fuel inlet 4 and outlet 5 are provided to permit fuel from a source of supply, such as the vacuum tank of an automobile, to ow thru the lower part of casing 1. constant level of fuel is maintained by meaps of a valve 6 controlled by afloat member Arranged slightly above the normal level of the fuel in the casing I provide a plate 8 which may be supported in any convenient manner as by a standard 9. This plate may be perforated and is spaced from the vertical Walls of casing 1. The casing is divided into upper and lower chambers 10, 11 respectively of which chamber 11 constitutes the fuel rereceptacle by a partition 12 from which a depending tube or wick holder 13 extends toward the plate 8. The chamber 11 is lilled with any suitable fibrous packing material such as asbestos fibres, the packing at certain points extending down below the plate 8,

thereby coming into direct contact with the liquid fuel contained in the lower part of casing 1, as shown at 14. The packing material filters the fuel passing through the fuel receptacle. A wick 15 fills the tube 13 to convey by capillary movement the liquid fuel from chamber 11 to chamber 10. In the lower part of chamber 10 I provide a support 16 which may take the form of non-oxidizable gauze and on this support is placed a suitable catalytic material, such as platinized asbestos, which functions to ignite the liquid fuel vapors given off by the wick 15 as they are carried up thru the catalyst body by a 1929. Serial No. 380,589.

current of air which may be supplied -by the perforated pipe 17. Products of combustion are conducted from the chamber 10 by an exhaust pipe 18. Pipes 17, 18 are provided with shutters or dampers 19, 19a, connected by suitable mechanism so as to open and shut simultaneously for the purpose hereinafter stated. Y l

Arranged in chamber 10\is heat exchange tubing constituted by a pipe coil 20 for the passage of water or other fluid cooling medium therethru. I preferably construct the coil 20 in two sections, the lower section being embedded in the catalyst body and the upper section arranged in the space thereabove. It may be desirable to provide an auxiliary heating device for the initial ignition of the combusti/ble mixture of vapors in the chamber 10. This may take the form of an electrical resistance 2l arranged immediately above the catalyst body or embedded therein. The catalytic heater may be operated either manually or automatically toheat the entire A engine and radiator, and maintain them at any predetermined reasonable temperature. It may be applied also for heating localized areas, such as the cylinder heads to prevent condensation of fuel mixture.

In Fig. 2, I have shown one method using the heater described above. In this drawing, 1 designates the catalytic heater shown in detail in Fig. 1. IVater from the cooling system of a motor A is by-passed thru the coil 20 of the heater thru suitable connections such as 22, 22a. In the preferred form of apparatus for carrying out my invention circulation thru coil 20 is elfected by a pump 22?) which circulates the cooling water. Thermo-Siphonic action may be used in whole or in part to effect this circulation, if desired. The heater is supplied with liquid fuel from the vacuum tank B by a pipe 4 and passes thence by a pipe 5^ to the carburetor C. It will be 0bserved that all the fuel passes through the catalytic heater and accordinglythe fuel level'therein is always maintained Without the need for special pipe connections to provide automatic control devices for operating the device. Thus I may provide a, thermostat 23 of any of the well known types to control the shutters 19, 19a so that when the desired temperature in the jacket of the motor has been reachedthe shutters will be automatically closed. Circulation of air thru the chamber Will be cut off by the closing of 19 with the resultant cessation of combustion in the chamber. Likewise this shutter will be automatically opened When the temperature in the jacket falls below a predetermined point, again permitting air to circulate thru the chamber 10 with the resultant ignition of the combustible mixture therein as it comes in contact with the catalytic body. The simultaneous closing of shutter 19a seals the heater and prevents loss by evaporation. The thermostat 23 preferably also actuates the heating element 21. A thermostatic switch 21a may be provided to automatically energize the auxiliary heating element 21 by means of electrical current from any convenient source, such as a storage battery, until combustion has been started in the chamber 10 and the temperature raised to a pointsufficient to maintain the combustion by means of the catalytic body, and then to cut-out the heating element. The switch 21a may be the sole control for element 21 but connection to thermostat 23 is an additional precaution.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various modifications .of my apparatus are possible. I may for example, provide separate conduits from the source of fuel supply to the heater and to the carburetor and I may provide auxiliary by-pass connections to various parts of the motor jacket and radiator to insure more satisfactory circulation thru the heater of the cooling medium generally used in an internal combustion motor. Manual instead of automatic operation may be adopted. While I have described my invention with reference to certain specific details I wish to claim all modifications and utilizations which come Within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

I claim 1. A heating system, which comprises an internal combustion engine including passages for cooling fluid and a carburetor, a fuel receptacle communicating with the carburetor, a chamber, a Wick holder communieating With the receptacle and chamber, a catalytic body in the chamber, and heat exchange tubing in the chamber communicating with the passages.

2. A heating system, which comprises an internal combustion engine including passages for cooling fluid and a carburetor, a

. fuel receptacle having an inlet and having an outlet'communicating With the carburetor, a

chamber, a Wick holder communicating with the receptacle and chamber, a catalytic body in the chamber, heat exchange tubing in the chamber communicating with the passages, and filter means in the receptacle between the inlet and outlet.

3. A heating system, which com rises an internal combustion engine inclu ing passages for cooling fluid and a carburetor, a fuel receptacle communicating Withthe carburetor, a chamber, a Wick holder communicating with the receptacle and chamber, a catalytic body in the chamber, means for circulating air through the body, heat exchange tubing in the chamber communicating with the passages to form an endless conduit, and heat responsive means operated by the contents of the conduit for controlling the air circulating means.

FRANK A. HOWARD. 

